Translational Topics in Fertility Preservation and Oncofertility

1 Unit · Graduate

This lecture and case studies-based course bridges basic science and clinical knowledge to expose students to the translational advances in the field of oncofertility and fertility preservation. Course topics include fertility preservation in different populations (adult women and men, pediatrics, transgender and disorders of sex development (DSD)populations), tissue/cell processing methods (gamete and gonad harvesting, processing, cryopreservation, and storage), clinical care (patient navigation conversations, consults, cancer agent risk factors, psychological factors), fundamental biology techniques (bioengineering gonadal bioprostheses, spheroids, microphysiologic platforms, follicle culture), and ethical issues in the field. Students will learn the importance of translating bench breakthroughs to the public by completing a scientific communication project that disseminates knowledge on course topics to a lay audience. A basic understanding of cell and molecular biology is a prerequisite for this course in addition to prior completion of REPR_SCI 405 and REPR_SCI 407. Completion of REPR_SCI 440 is also required so that students are familiar with the lab techniques that will be discussed in this course.